DAPHNE — SEEDS has announced that $35,000 in enrichment grants will be awarded to the five Daphne public schools and Christ the King School for the 2008-09 year. 

This figure includes a $3,000 block grant to each participating school for major investments in technology and instructional resources as well as funding to support 20 new classroom initiatives developed by individual teachers or teams of teachers. 

“SEEDS’ Enrichment Grant Program is funded by our two annual community events: the Mamma Mia Italian Cook-off and the Classic Rock 5K and Fun Run,” said Ashley Hammond, SEEDS president.

“With additional contributions this year from state Sen. Trip Pittman and state Rep. Randy Davis, we were once again able to fully fund every new project developed by a Daphne teacher,” she added.

Now in its fourth year of operation, SEEDS’ Enrichment Grant Program encourages teachers and principals to develop classroom initiatives beyond the core curriculum that focus on four criteria: innovative teaching, instructional impact, professional collaboration and community partnership.

“We’re pleased that with growing community support, our annual grant program has invested more than $84,000 in the Daphne schools since 2005,” said Hammond.

The 2008 Mamma Mia Cook-off: A Celebration of Daphne’s Italian Heritage is set for Saturday, Nov. 8, on the grounds of Daphne’s new City Hall from 7 to 10 p.m. The next SEEDS’ Classic Rock 5K and Fun Run is slated for Saturday, March 7, 2009.

For more information, contact Denise D’Oliveira, executive director, at (251) 656-SEED     (656-7333) or at info@seedsindaphne.org.

The 2008-’09 SEEDS Enrichment Grant projects and the lead teachers/staff who developed them include:

Christ the King School

Daphne Elementary School

W. J. Carroll Intermediate School

Daphne East Elementary School

Daphne Middle School

<“When I Grow Up, I Want to Be . . . ?” — Claire Waites

Daphne High School